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The Effects of a Health Promotion Program Using Urban Forests and Nursing Student Mentors on the Perceived and Psychological Health of Elementary School Children in Vulnerable Populations

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  • Kyung-Sook Bang

    (Faculty of College of Nursing, The Research Institute of Nursing Science, Seoul National University, Seoul 03080, Korea)

  • Sungjae Kim

    (Faculty of College of Nursing, The Research Institute of Nursing Science, Seoul National University, Seoul 03080, Korea)

  • Min Kyung Song

    (College of Nursing, Seoul National University, Seoul 03080, Korea)

  • Kyung Im Kang

    (College of Nursing, Seoul National University, Seoul 03080, Korea)

  • Yeaseul Jeong

    (College of Nursing, Seoul National University, Seoul 03080, Korea)

Abstract

As problems relating to children’s health increase, forest therapy has been proposed as an alternative. This study examined the effects of a combined health promotion program, using urban forests and nursing student mentors, on the perceived and psychosocial health of upper-grade elementary students. The quasi-experimental study ran from June to August 2017, with 52 upper-grade elementary students from five community after-school centers. With a purposive sampling, they were assigned to either an experimental group ( n = 24), who received a 10-session health promotion program, or to a control group ( n = 28). Seven undergraduate nursing students participated as mentors. Running over 10 weeks, each weekly session consisted of 30 min of health education and 60 min of urban forest activities. Data were analyzed by independent t -test, Mann-Whitney U-test, paired t -test, or Wilcoxon signed rank test. General characteristics and outcome variables of both groups were homogeneous. The experimental group showed significant improvement in self-esteem ( p = 0.030) and a significant decrease in depressive symptoms ( p = 0.020) after the intervention, compared to the control group. These results suggest that forest healing programs may contribute to the spread of health promotion programs that make use of nature.

Suggested Citation

  • Kyung-Sook Bang & Sungjae Kim & Min Kyung Song & Kyung Im Kang & Yeaseul Jeong, 2018. "The Effects of a Health Promotion Program Using Urban Forests and Nursing Student Mentors on the Perceived and Psychological Health of Elementary School Children in Vulnerable Populations," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(9), pages 1-11, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:15:y:2018:i:9:p:1977-:d:169009
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Kyung-Sook Bang & Insook Lee & Sungjae Kim & Chun Soo Lim & Hee-Kyung Joh & Bum-Jin Park & Min Kyung Song, 2017. "The Effects of a Campus Forest-Walking Program on Undergraduate and Graduate Students’ Physical and Psychological Health," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(7), pages 1-13, July.
    2. Michael J. Duncan & Neil D. Clarke & Samantha L. Birch & Jason Tallis & Joanne Hankey & Elizabeth Bryant & Emma L. J. Eyre, 2014. "The Effect of Green Exercise on Blood Pressure, Heart Rate and Mood State in Primary School Children," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 11(4), pages 1-11, April.
    3. Insook Lee & Heeseung Choi & Kyung-Sook Bang & Sungjae Kim & MinKyung Song & Buhyun Lee, 2017. "Effects of Forest Therapy on Depressive Symptoms among Adults: A Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(3), pages 1-18, March.
    4. Chorong Song & Harumi Ikei & Yoshifumi Miyazaki, 2016. "Physiological Effects of Nature Therapy: A Review of the Research in Japan," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 13(8), pages 1-17, August.
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    Cited by:

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    5. Emilia Janeczko & Krzysztof Czyżyk & Małgorzata Woźnicka & Tomasz Dudek & Jitka Fialova & Natalia Korcz, 2024. "The Importance of Forest Management in Psychological Restoration: Exploring the Effects of Landscape Change in a Suburban Forest," Land, MDPI, vol. 13(9), pages 1-13, September.
    6. Francesco Meneguzzo & Lorenzo Albanese & Michele Antonelli & Rita Baraldi & Francesco Riccardo Becheri & Francesco Centritto & Davide Donelli & Franco Finelli & Fabio Firenzuoli & Giovanni Margheritin, 2021. "Short-Term Effects of Forest Therapy on Mood States: A Pilot Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(18), pages 1-21, September.
    7. Federica Zabini & Lorenzo Albanese & Francesco Riccardo Becheri & Gioele Gavazzi & Fiorenza Giganti & Fabio Giovanelli & Giorgio Gronchi & Andrea Guazzini & Marco Laurino & Qing Li & Tessa Marzi & Fra, 2020. "Comparative Study of the Restorative Effects of Forest and Urban Videos during COVID-19 Lockdown: Intrinsic and Benchmark Values," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(21), pages 1-13, October.
    8. Don-Gak Lee & Mi-Mi Lee & Young-Mi Jeong & Jin-Gun Kim & Yung-Kyoon Yoon & Won-Sop Shin, 2021. "Influence of Forest Visitors’ Perceived Restorativeness on Social–Psychological Stress," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(12), pages 1-14, June.
    9. Tobias Ihle & Ellen Jahr & Dörte Martens & Holger Muehlan & Silke Schmidt, 2024. "Health Effects of Participation in Creating Urban Green Spaces—A Systematic Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(12), pages 1-26, June.
    10. Emilia Janeczko & Jan Banaś & Małgorzata Woźnicka & Stanisław Zięba & Katarzyna Utnik Banaś & Krzysztof Janeczko & Jitka Fialova, 2023. "Sociocultural Profile as a Predictor of Perceived Importance of Forest Ecosystem Services: A Case Study from Poland," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(19), pages 1-14, September.
    11. Francesco Meneguzzo & Lorenzo Albanese & Giorgio Bartolini & Federica Zabini, 2019. "Temporal and Spatial Variability of Volatile Organic Compounds in the Forest Atmosphere," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(24), pages 1-24, December.
    12. Poung-Sik Yeon & Jin-Young Jeon & Myeong-Seo Jung & Gyeong-Min Min & Ga-Yeon Kim & Kyung-Mi Han & Min-Ja Shin & Seong-Hee Jo & Jin-Gun Kim & Won-Sop Shin, 2021. "Effect of Forest Therapy on Depression and Anxiety: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(23), pages 1-27, December.
    13. Davide Donelli & Francesco Meneguzzo & Michele Antonelli & Diego Ardissino & Giampaolo Niccoli & Giorgio Gronchi & Rita Baraldi & Luisa Neri & Federica Zabini, 2023. "Effects of Plant-Emitted Monoterpenes on Anxiety Symptoms: A Propensity-Matched Observational Cohort Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(4), pages 1-16, February.
    14. Geonwoo Kim & Sujin Park & Dooahn Kwak, 2020. "Is It Possible to Predict the Concentration of Natural Volatile Organic Compounds in Forest Atmosphere?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(21), pages 1-12, October.

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